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May is usually a big month for Jordan Knight – he celebrates his birthday on the 17. But in addition to turning the big 4-1, the New Kids on the Block singer will also release two albums on consecutive weeks. The NKOTBSB collaboration with the Backstreet Boys hits shelves May 24. Knight revealed on “The Ralphie Radio Show” that his solo project, Unfinished, will be released the following Tuesday.

“I had to push the release date back to May 31,” said Knight, who called in from his Boston home. “It’s very typical in this business to kind of push the dates back, but it’s still in May.”

Yunno, Knight has done this once or twice before. The original date was May 3, and the extra couple of weeks afford the artist more time to organize what will be a hectic spring and summer. In addition to the two albums and 41-date arena tour with BSB, Knight will also be holding autograph signings and performing radio promo events in support of his new album.

“Like you were saying earlier, (saying that I’m) being busy is ‘a gross understatement,’” Knight noted, referencing my introduction to our chat on “The RRS.” “I’ll probably be doing an in-store (signing) or maybe a radio show here, and then have to rush back to the arena to do the actual 2 hour show that we’re doing with the Backstreet Boys.”

The first single from Unfinished is the up-tempo track, “Let’s Go Higher,” written by “What You Got” singer and the Lady GaGa “Just Dance”-featured Colby O’Donnis. The Grammy-nominated O’Donnis had “Let’s Go Higher” in the bank for a minute. He sent it to Knight despite the fact that Jordan was looking for ideas for a track already created for the album.

“That was about a year ago,” Knight said. He flew out to O’Donnis’ house to cut the vocals. “They have an intercom system in the house. His mom would call up – ‘Colby, dinner’s ready!’ and he’d be like, ‘Yo Jordan let’s take a break, dinner’s ready.”

The New Kid spent a couple days at O’Donnis’ crib and had nothing but great things to say about the experience, and the food. Knight felt like a kid again because when his band was first starting out – it was a similar situation. The guys would rehearse in Knight’s basement, break for food upstairs, and return for more recording.

Knight did not talk with the other fellas about promoting his solo project over the summer. He insists that it will not conflict with anything that New Kids or BSB are doing on tour – if anything, the complete opposite.

“With all the people that I’m working on with my solo project, I told them all, ‘(The album) cannot get in the way of the New Kids on the Block,’” said Knight. “I don’t want there to be any kinds of conflict. I only want each thing to enhance the other.”

The New England-native believes that the NKOTB comeback will help his album, but that wasn’t the primary motivating factor in the release of his fifth solo LP.

“The resurgence of the New Kids obviously gives it a lot more exposure,” Knight admitted. “I’m happy about that.”

Above all, it seems that Knight is just happy to be in the mix again – solo or with the guys.

“It’s going to be exciting,” he said of his upcoming summer. “We’re going back on tour and it’s a huge arena tour with another ‘boy band’ and the excitement, the music, the fans… it’s just all so much fun.”

The following appears in the latest edition of The Weekender.—Pop went Chris Brown’s bubble this week, in oh-so-many aspects.

In the confines of a weekend, the R&B singer lost an endorsement deal, a Grammy Awards performance, a girlfriend, and a squeaky-clean image – all while gaining a criminal record.

The downfall began on Sunday morning, around 12:30. According to witnesses, Brown allegedly engaged in a physical altercation with another female. A number of sources identified the woman as 20 year-old Rihanna.

After one onlooker heard screaming, she called 911. By the time police arrived, Brown left the scene of the crime – but turned himself in to custody later that evening. The Los Angeles Police Department booked Brown on suspicion of making felony criminal threats. Authorities released the singer after he posted the $50,000 bail.

A court date is set for March. Wrigley Jr. Company is not waiting until then to take action. The candy company suspended its marketing campaign which promotes Doublemint gum with Brown and his song, “Forever”. In a statement released Monday, Wrigley’s acknowledges due process yet takes the allegations seriously.

Coincidentally, Brown’s “Got Milk?” campaign was previously set to cease this week. That contract will not be renewed. Furthermore, the crooner will not appear at next weekend’s NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix.

As the fallout of Brown’s fate unfolds, more details emerge about the victim, allegedly Rihanna. According to TMZ, law officials call the songstress’s injuries “horrific.” The website reported a litany of damage done by the beating – from face contusions to busted lips and a bloody nose.

Both singers cancelled their performances for Sunday’s Grammy Awards. Neither won an award.TMZ’s Leslie Harris informed me that there’s a history of domestic violence in Brown’s family. In an interview on The Tyra Banks Show a few years ago, Brown recounted some of those childhood memories.

“I treat women differently, because you know, I don’t want to put a women through the same thing that person put my mom through,” said Brown when recalling memories of watching the abuse as young as age 7.

Rumors began to swirl earlier this month that the couple, who had been dating for at least a year, was on the rocks. Other artists even talked about the possible break-up. Grammy nominated Colby O’Donis went as far to dedicate a song off of his LP, “Let You Go”, to the duo.

“I actually just found out that they broke up,” O’Donis told me exclusively on 97 BHT the Thursday before The Grammy’s. “I’m sure they’re going to dedicate that song to each other.”

O’Donis nabbed his first Grammy nod for his contribution to Lady GaGa’s “Just Dance.” He and Rihanna share a mutual friend in singer/producer Akon.

As of press time, neither Brown’s nor Rihanna’s camp issued a statement regarding the abuse reports.—Listen to Ralphie Aversa weekdays from 5-10p on 97 BHT.